Happy Eid - Millions In Mecca Start Hajj Pilgrimage

The pilgrims the following year reportedly have got occur at a overall associated with 183 countries

President Obama plus his wife extend greetings to get a delighted Eid al-Adha

Hajj is an twelve-monthly pilgrimage this lasts about five days

(CNN) Millions associated with Muslims from around the globe have been inside holy area connected with Mecca with Saturday for that first day regarding Hajj, your annual pilgrimage in which just about every able-bodied Muslim is actually likely to accomplish no less than as soon as around his or even her life.

Dressed in bright plus pursuing inside footsteps from the prophet Mohammed, pilgrims climbed Mount Arafat, simply outdoor that Saudi Arabian city.

Hajj, some sort of five-day pilgrimage, contains a new series of comprehensive rituals with Mina, Muzdalifa, Arafat plus Mecca.

It is definitely among the several support beams of Islam.

This year's pilgrimage is actually different while it could be the primary to help occur considering that the Arab Spring begun continue year.

Some professionals usually are seeing for potential flare-ups with Saudi Arabia, some sort of united states governed by simply an unelected royal family plus in which freedoms tend to be limited.

The pilgrims in 2010 have got are available coming from 183 countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported. About 54% of the actual pilgrims usually are male.

U.S. President Barack Obama introduced some sort of affirmation involving Saturday to coincide while using start off involving Hajj. Eid al-Adha, or the Festival regarding Sacrifice, starts on Sunday.

"Michelle and I extend each of our greetings for your delighted Eid al-Adha for you to Muslims worldwide and also congratulate people performing Hajj. Thousands regarding Muslim Americans will be among those who have joined up with among the world's biggest and many assorted events to make the actual pilgrimage to be able to Mecca along with close by sites," he said.

"The Eid and also Hajj rituals are a reminder on the discussed roots from the world's Abrahamic faiths plus the strong purpose that religion takes on within encouraging communities in order to serve as well as endure with people with need. On part on the American people, we all extend each of our ideal wishes on this Hajj season."

CNN's Yasmin Amer contributed to the present report.